Door fastener



Aug. 24, 1937. E, R, R ENT 2,091,015

DOOR FASTENER 7 Filed March 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l i 5 z; 7 I. 27

3 ZZZ-5:. 4 z 3 I ll 31 29* I a 14 16 27, 30 v 34 4 28 Aug. 24;, 1937.

E. R. SARGENT 2,091,015

DOOR FASTENER Filed March 31, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Au 24, 1937 SATES ATENT OFFICE DOOR FASTENER Application March '31, 1936, Serial No. 71,905

2 Claims.

door is permitted to open. 1

In order to prevent unauthorized intrusion into a room or house when a door is opened in response to the bell or knocker, it has been quite common to employ chain door fasteners to limit the amount which the door can be opened. Such a structure is usually in the form of a chain secured to the door jamb at one end and provided at the other end with a member slidably engaged with a slotted plate or fitting attached to the door, the chain thus spanning the opening edge of the door and by its length limiting the extent to which the door will be permitted to open. The end of the chain, which engages the fitting upon the door, can be readily disengaged from the fitting so that the door will be permitted to open to its full width when desired.

Such a structure has several disadvantages, one of which is that when the door is opened the chain engages and is drawn across the doors edge, and the result is that the finish is marred,

and in some instances the edge is badly mutilated. Also, the length of the chain is often such that the door may be opened a sufficient extent to permitthe entrance of the hand of an intruder to disengage the end of the chain from the fitting.

'Again, with a proper tool, such as a pair of pliers or the like which may be slipped through the opening, the chain may be cut.

One object of the present invention is to obviate the disadvantages of the chain door fastener above referred to and provide a door fastener without these disadvantages which will be efiicient and serviceable in operation.

Another object of the invention is the provi- 4,0 of a door fastener which, while limiting the opening of the door, will not come into contact with the edge thereof so as to mar the door, and will not strike the door jamb when in disengaged position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a door fastener which will be of ornate appearance, efficient and serviceable in operation, and which may not be disengaged or destroyed by an intruder.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a safety door fastener having a solid bar member designed to be pivotally connected to the door jamb and slidably connected to the fitting applied to the door, and to extend across the opening edge of the door so as to limit the extent of opening permitted and yet not come in contact with the edge of the door.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is -a front elevational view of a door fastener embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and enlarged relatively to the disclosure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the door at the limit of its open position as permitted by the door fastener;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the door fastener disengaged from the door; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the plate or fitting applied to the door.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown in the drawings a portion of a door I!) designed to close in cooperation with the door frame or jamb II. Upon the door is mounted a plate or fitting, shown in elevational view in Fig. 6. This fitting I2 is provided with a raised central portion I3 in which is a longitudinal slot' I4 extending substantially throughout the length of the fitting and provided with enlarged and upwardly extending ends I5 and It whereby the slot is of generally U-shaped design. Above and below the raised portion I3, the fitting is provided with fiat plane portions containing screw openings H to receive the screws I8 by which the fitting may be secured in place. Each of the ends I5 and I6 is provided with a latching step I5 and Hi and the corners between the enlarged ends Iii and I6 of the slot I4 and the slot proper may be beveled off as shown at I9 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The door fastener comprises a plate 2!] adapted to be secured to the door jamb II by screws 2|. To this plate is pivoted a base member 22, this member being provided with a pin or stud 23 which is received rotatably in an opening in the plate 26 and riveted over a washer 25. It will thus be seen that the pin 23 will be rotatable with respect to the plate 20 about a horizontal axis, according to the usual manner of installing the device.

The bar member 29 is provided upon its free end, with a finger piece 30 which projects outwardly from the bar, and at the same end the bar is provided at its under side with a lug 3|. This lug is a fiat member extending rearwardly from the bar and having upon its extended or free end trunnion-like members 32 and 33 which project, one upwardly and one downwardly, from its flat surface. At its other end, the lug 3| is provided with an abrupt shoulder 34. Intermediate the ends of lug 3|, and adjacent finger piece 3|], a shoulder 34 formed.

When my improved door fastener is not in use,

2 it will normally be turned downwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1,'or as shown in Fig. 5, where it does not extend across the opening edge of the door. When, however, it is desired to place it into operative position, the bar is grasped and turned from the dotted line position to the full line position in Fig. 1, the pivot or stud 23 turning in the plate 26 to permit this movement. It is turned to a position wherein the trunnions or pins 32 and 33 will enter the enlarged end l of the slot la in the fitting I2. It

' will be apparent that the members 32 and 33 will only enter this slot when the lug 3| is slightly above the longitudinal portion of the slot l4.

After the trunnions have been inserted through the portion l5 of the slot, as described above, the bar 29 is dropped slightly about its pivot pin 23 so that the lug 3| registers with the slot I4. It will be apparent that in this position the member 33 will extend below the lower edge of the slot I4 so as to prevent the bar from being disengaged from the fitting on the door.

The door fastener is now in operative position, as shown in Fig 2. If the door is now opened, the bar 29 will be swung about its pivot 28 to the position shown in Fig. 3. At the same time, the lug 3| will be moved through the slot l4 from the lefthand end to the right-hand end thereof, as shown in the drawings, until the abrupt shoulder 34 engages and brings up against the right-hand edge of the enlarged portion l6 of the slot 4. This engagement of the shoulder 34 with the edge of the slot not only prevents further movement of the door, but prevents the pins or trunnions 32 and 33 from moving into the enlarged portion l6 of the slot and possibly moving to a position where the bar might become disengaged from the door. If it is desired to have the door remain open, a slight downward movement of the bar 29 will bring shoulder 34* into engagement with the step w and latch the door in open position.

When the door is closed, the member 29 will of course move from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and it will be seen that it is only when the door is fully closed that the members 32 and 33 will again register with the enlarged end l5 of the slot so that they may be disengaged therefrom. At this time it will be necessary to move the member 3| upwardly to a slight extent past the beveled shoulder I9 to release the trunnion 33 from the lower wall of the enlarged portion l5 of the slot, for it will be seen that as long as the member 3| is in the slot l4, the member 33 cannot be released. This upward movement necessary for release is not possible until the member 3! reaches the beveled portion I9, which, as shown in Fig. 2, will not take place until the door is fully closed. The member 3| is relatively wide in order to efiect this result.

This is an important feature of the operation of the device from the standpoint of safety in that it can never be disengaged from the door until the latter is completely closed.

By providing the enlarged ends l5 and H5 at each side of the slot I4, I construct the device so that it may be mounted upon rightor lefthand doors, as desired. As shown in the drawings, the left-hand slot I5 only is used, while if the door were hinged at the other side, the right-hand slot I6 would be used. As the bar 29 and its associated parts are entirely symmetrical, these parts. may simply be turned end for end if mounted on a door swinging in the other direction. The beveled corners I9 between the slot l4 and the enlarged ends of this slot permit the lug 3| to ride easily from the enlarged ends into the longitudinal portion M if for any reason the lug happens to be out of alignment with this slot.

It will also be seen that as the member 29 is of arcuate shape, it will at all times clear the edge of the door, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and will not engage with and mar the latter when the door is opened.

The bar 29, as shown in Fig. 5, has a stop member 29 adapted to strike a portion of the plate or fitting 2|] or the screw 2| securing plate 20 to the door jamb, as shown in Fig. 5, and will prevent the lug 3| and trunnions 32 and 33 from striking the door jamb and marring the same.

The present application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 752,295, filed November 9, 1934..

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A door fastener comprising a fitting adapted to be secured to the door jamb, a slotted plate adapted to be secured to the door, a rigid bar pivotally secured to said jamb fitting at one end and having on the other end a member slidably received in said slot, said slot having enlarged portions at each end to permit the insertion and withdrawal of said member, projecting means on said member within the slot adapted to engage the walls of the slot, said projecting means being insertable and withdrawable through said enlarged portions, and said member having a portion adapted to engage one end of the slot and prevent said projecting means registering with the enlarged portion at that end.

2. A door fastener comprising a fitting adapted to be secured to the door jamb, a slotted plate adapted to be secured to the door, a rigid bar pivotally secured to said jamb fitting at one end and having on the other end a member slidably received in said slot, projecting means on said member within the slot adapted to engage the side edges of the slot and prevent disengagement of said member, said slot having enlarged portions at both ends to permit said projecting means to pass therethrough, and said member having a portion adapted to engage one end of the slot to prevent said projecting means reaching the enlarged portion at that end.

EDWARD R. SARGENT. 

